Automatic feed-water device for steam-boilers.



E. B. NORMAN. AUTOMATIC FEED WATER-DEVICE FOR STEAM BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.Z0,1908.

Patented, Dec. 27, 1.910.

E. E. NORMAN. AUTOMATIC FEED WATER DEVICE FOR STEAM BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1908.

Patented. Dec. 27, 1910.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 i uwsyqqw UNiTs srrarss rarnnr opinion.

4 EARL E. Il'ORMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGN- an electro-moto-r MENTS, TO NORTHERN CO TION OF ILLINOIS. I

The object of my invention is to pi'ovide automatic means formaintaining a substantially constant water level. in a boiler or batteryofz'boilers,and,-;;more particu;

larly, the said means to beelectri'cally operated so for as thedeliveryof the water into the boiler or boilers is concerned andthermally controlled due to the conditions existingwithin the boiler orboilers.

My invention comprises the combination with one or'inore boilers,'of apump, an electro -rnotor for intermittently operating the pump, anelectrical controller for controlling the operation of theelectro-motor,

and thermally actuated means; controlled .by

the water level within the boiler for regulating the time of operationof the electrical controller, whereby the motor may be put intooperation automatically whenever the water level in the boiler comes h lthe predetermined normal level." r A.

My invention, more spec fically e mbg les a battery of boilers, combinedwitlraip to. operate. the. pm water main into which the punip d waterunder pressure, separate branch pipes to each boiler from the watermain, a

j-lieck valvein each branch pipe to prevent.

water mssmg from the boilers into the water mam power devices forassisting the lmilerpressures of the respective boilers to hold theircheck valves closed against ,the

a superior pressure in the water main, (levices for each boiler andcontrolled by the water level therein for respectively con-- trollingthe several power device an elo lrir'al controller for controlling theoperation of the.clcctro-motor, and means open :zlUl by the(liil'ercntial in pressures between the boilcr or boilers and the watermain for MPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- AUTOMATIC FEED-WATERDEVICE FOR- STEAM-BOILERS.

f Specification of Letters Patent. P t t d 27,, 1910, Application filedAugust 20, 1908. Serial No. 449,391.

operating the electrical controller to put the pump into operationwhenever the water level of any one or more of the boilers becomes lowerthan the predetermined normal levels.

My invention also comprehends various features-and details ofconstruction which, together with those above specified, will be betterunderstood by reference to the-drawings in which: Figure 1 is a generalelevation illustrat- 1n my invention when applied to a single-bo1ler;"Fig. 2 is an elevation showing my invention adapted 'for abattery of boilers, the boilers and thermo controllers not beingshown-,but understood to be as indicated in F 1g. 1; and F1g.'3 is anelevation of adetail of the supply valve for the feed water pipe. v

Referring more particularly to Fig. l, A is the boiler and may he of anyconstruction desired: D is the usual water column which is provided withthe gage cocks and water glass and has its top connected withthe boilerabove the water level by .pipe D and also below the water level by pipeC. The normal water level is represented by the dotted line :17 and isin line with the middle gage cock. I is the boiler feed pump anddelivers water under pressure to-the boiler by pipe I having check valveJ.-

These parts may be of any desired construction.

The pump I is shown as a power driven geared pump and is operatedintermittently by an electro-Inotor H receiving .current by conductors Hand controlled by an electric controller G which, together with themotor, may 'beof any desired construction; The controller, shown as anexample has .a series of -resistances having terminals Gr over which thecut out switch Gr travels, the latter being finoved by a quick actingspring K under the influence of aweighted lever K. A dash pot 'Sjmay beu'sedlto make the switch move slowly overj he'g icontacts when supplyingthe current'tothemotor; I do not make claim to any feature of the switchper se, as there arefmanyltypesjof switches onthe market which maybegised for the purposes of my inventionmfiis an expansion tube and ispreferably za granged at an incline with its lower endgsegunedrto a baseB. The upper end of; this expansion tube is jointed to the hort arm of abell crankF which is pivoted on the upper end of a standard B secured tothe base. B is a tension rod extending parallel with the expansion tubeand connected at one end with the base and at the other end with the topof the standard by the pivot of the bell crank. The bottom end of theexpansion tube B is connected bya pipe Cwith the pipe C considerablybelow the normal water level a: of the boiler, and the upper end of theexpansion tube is connected by a pipe E with the water column D at apoint in line with the normal water level w of the boiler and henceadjacent to the middle gage cock (1. The free end of the long arm of thebell crank F is connected by a chain F with the operating weighted leverK of the electrical controller G. This chain is pref.- e'rably providedwith a turn-buckle F for purposes of adjustment. Adjustment may also bemade by the tension ro'd B and the nut B at the lower end. By thesemeans the parts may be so arran ed that whenever the water level lowerss ightly, the controller G will be put into operation to startthe pumpand vice versa. The expansion tube B is preferablyabove the water leveli :v of the boiler, as shown, but may be arranged in any other mannerdesired so long as the lever F is operated by any. change of waterlevel.

The operation is as follows: Assuming the water level to be normal, thepump will be at rest and the parts in the positions shown. In thiscondition expansion tube B is sealed at both ends and is full of waterand hence in contracted condition. If now, the water level becomeslowered so as to; allow steam to enter ppe E, we will thenhave the water.in pipe caused to flow through pipe G into the boiler and allow thesteam to fill said pipe-B. The result of this is, that the pipe heats upand expands and by said ac-. tion causes the free end of the bell cranklever F to rise, and by the chain F lift the wei hted' lever K. When thelever-'K is en ciently lifted, it puts into operation the switch lever Gwhich starts the electro: motor H. The pump is then put into action andas the water risesin the boiler to the normallevel, the pipe E is againsealed with the result that the steam in the expansion tube Biscondensed and the tube filled with water. The tube then contracts andlowers the chain F, and the weighted lever K of the control ler G swingsslowly downward until a point is reached when the switch lever G isoperated-to shut ofi the current and stop the motor and pump. Theseoperations may be made to take place for very slight variationsin thewater level in the I boiler as it 1s only a matter of proportioning themovement ofthe several parts to secure anysensitiveness desired.

As largemanufac turing plants usuallyi employ two or more boilers as abattery of steam generators, it becomes necessary to somewhat modify myinvention when em ployed for such battery of boilers, for in such casewe have only one boiler feed pump and this must respond to' the demandsof any one of the series of boilers; and moreover, the mechanism of theboiler requiring the water supply must so direct the water that itisdelivered to the proper boiler. Means for accomplishing the aboverequirementsis H and controlled by the electrical controller G which maybe of the same general construction as in Fig. 1. K of the controllerbeing directly operated by the expansion tube it is operated by a rod Nwhich is depressed by a weighted pivoted arm P and is raised by a pistonN working in a cylinder N. The piston is depresse by the pressure of thewater in the main I exerted through a. pipe 0 connecting with the upperend of cylinder N, and is raised by the pressure of the steam from theboilers delivered by pipe 0 connecting -with the bottom of cylinder Nand assisted by the weighted pivoted arm P. The normal ressure in themain I is sufficient to hol the piston in. its lowered position. Pipes Iare branches which lead from the main I and deliver feed water to therespective boilers" Instead of the lever (not shown), and these branchfeed water pipes are each provided with a check valve to prevent waterflowing from the boilers .at all times and to prevent the water frompassing into the boilers except when the water level is too low. Eachcheck valve isprovided with a plunger M' which may be raised or loweredby a toggle lever mechanism L weighted at L to close the check valveagainst the pressure of the pump. The

toggle lever. construction is such as to lockthe valve closed when theweight L is given opportunity 'to exert its influence. Each boiler isprovided with an expansion tube B as shown in Fig. 1 and as indicated bythe upper end of such tubes, in Fig. 2, and said expansion t ubesoperate the bell crank levers F and these through the chains F operatethe weighted toggle levers L, raising them when the water is too-low inthe boiler, and In Fig. 2, provision is shown zice versla. b

or supp ying water to two 'oilers d e right hand check valve isin open38 162); for feeding water from main I through pipe I to the boiler. istaking place the pressure in mainI is lower than normal and consequentlythe. steam pressure assisted by the weigh ed pivoted arm P has operatedthe swi *of the When this operation.

-boiler feed pump, an electro-motor for op- V power plants, and amongother advantages controller G and the motor H is in act of driving thepump. When the water level in the boiler being supplied rises to thenormal, the lever L is lowered and the weight- L assisted by the boilerpressure stops the flow of water through the check valve. The pressurein the-main I then increases and this extend to the cylinder N above thepis ton N, with the result that the piston is lowered and operates thecontroller G to stop the motor hilc in this instance the(,Olll'l'Ollill' 4 ectly controlled by the steam and water pressure, itis nevertheless indirectly controlled by the expansion tubes and thewater level in the boilers.

The apparatus herein described wi l maintain a predetermined-water leveland because of the accuracy of its operation it increases the life,safety and. eliiciency of secures the following, namely: High or lowwater is prevented, thereby reducing danger from burning of sheets andtubes on the one hand, and from water passing over with the steam 0n theother; drier steam which pro motes efficiency and diminishes wear anddanger of accidents in engine cylinders and turbines; the rate of inflowof feed is ractically equal to the rate of evaporation, once the slow,even passage of water through economizers or heaters, when used, permitssuch heating apparatus to imparta greater amount of heat to the water,si-ncethe-water is able to absorb the heatcontinuously as it i isdelivered, and this increases steam plant economy and saves coal;strains resulting from masses of cold water injected into bpilone atirregular intervals are prevented; and steam pressure may be maintainedmore even and a more uniform system of firing made possible,

I have described my invention in the form in which I prefer it for"commercial use but it is to be understood that 1 do not confine myselfto the details of construction as these may be modified in various WaysWithout departing from the spirit; of the invention.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is: t 1. In means for supplying water to steamboilers, the combination of the boiler, a

e'ratin the pump, an electric controller for. contro ling theelectro-motor, and means controlled by the level of the rater in theboiler for automatically operating the controller to energize theclectro-mbtor when the Water level is below the nornial and to put themotor out oi operationatyhen the normal Water level is reached, saidmeans consisting of an expension'tube having one end connected with theboiler below the Water level and the other end with the boiler tingitotl from the electro-motor with rapidity and a lever for operating thespring actuated means, and thermostatically 0p-' erated means controlledby the lcvelgof the water in the boiler for automatically-bringing thecontroller lever to a condition whereby spring actuated means of thecontroller operates rapidly of itself to energize the electro-motorwhenthe water level is below the normal, and means such as a weightcontrolled by the thermostatically operated means to bring thecontroller lever to the condition whereby the spring actuated meansoperates rapidly of itself-toput the motor out of operation when thenormal water level is reached. 1

3. In means for supplying water to steam boilers, the combination of aplurality of boilers, a high pressure feed Water main, a, power drivenpump for forcing Water into said main under pressure. greater than theboiler pressures, an electric-motor to drive the pump, an electriccontroller for starting and stopping the electro-motor, meansindependent of the Wat pressure for operating the electric co troller tostart the electro-motor, means coiitrolled by the pressure of water inthe high pressure feedwater mainto operate the electric controller tostop the el'ectro-motor, branch feed water pipe? from the high pressurefeed Water main to e ,ch boiler, a valve in each branch pipe normlnllyfree to open by the pressure in the higl devices fOkli each of thevalves. for normally holding t em closed, and means for each boilercontrolledby the level of the water in the boiler-for removing theaction of the ower devices upon the valves whenever the evel of theWater falls materially below the I normal level. v

4. In means for supplying water'to steam boilers, the combination of aplurality of boilers, a high pressure feed Water main, a

power driven pump for forcing water into said main under pressuregreater than the boiler'pressures, anelectromiotor to drive the pump, anelectric controller-for starting and stopping the elcctromotor, meansfor operating the electric controller toistart the 'electro-motor, meanscontrolled by the pres- -J I at the normal water level, and devices d1-,surc of Water in the high pressure feed wapressure feed water mam,power power devices upon ter main to operate the electric controller tostop the electromotor, branch feed water pipes from the high pressurefeed water main to each boiler, a valve in each holding them closed, andmeans for eac boiler controlled by the level of the water in the boilerfor removing the action of the the valves whenever the level of thewater falls materially below the normal level, said means eachcomprising an expansion member subjected to the action of steam when thewater is below the normal level and to water when it reaches the normallevel or thereabout, and connecting devices between the expansion memberand the power devices whereby the lattercan only become effective whenthe level of the water in the boiler is at or above the normal level. 5.In means for supplying water to steam boilers, the combination of aplurality of boilers, a high pressure feed water main, a power drivenpump for forcing water into said main under pressure greater than theboiler pressures, an electro-motor to drive the pump, an electriccontroller for starting and stop ing the electro-motor, means consistino weighted device and a steam actuate device acting continuously foroperating the electric controller to start the electro-motor, meanscontrolledby the pressure of Water in the high pressure feed water mainto .operate the electric controller to stop the electro-motor, branchfeed water pipes from the high'pressure feed water main to each boiler,pipe normally free to open by the pressure in the high pressure feedwater main, power devices for each of the valves for normally holdingthem closed, and means for each boiler controlled'by the level of thewater in the boiler for removing theaction of the 'power devices uponthe valves whenever the level of the water falls materially below thenormal level. 6. In means for supplying feed water to boilers, thecombination of a plurality of boilers, a high pressure water main, apower driven pump for forcing Water into the main at a higher pressurethan that in the boilers, an elcctro-motor for driving the pump, anelectric controller for startingand stopping the motor, branch pipesfromthe water main to the respective boilers, valves in each of thebranch pipes-to control the flow of water therethrough, thermally actingmeans for each boiler operated by the changes in the level of the waterin the respective boilers, means for-each boiler directly operate "bythe thermally acting means of said boilers for controlling therespective valves int-the respective branch nines to admit waterto; the

branch pipe normally tree to open by the pressure in the high pressurefeed water main, power devices for each of the valves for normall if;

therethrough, thermally acting means level of the water in therespective boilers,

a valve in each branch inthe boilers when the water level is below thenormal level, and devices controlled by any one or more of the thermallyacting means of the plurality of boilers for operating the electriccontroller to start the electro-motor Whenever the water level getsbelow the normal in any one or more of the boilers.

7. In means for supplying feed water to boilers, the combination of aplurality of boilers, a high pressure water main, a power driven pumpfor forcing Water into the main at a higher pressure than that in theboilers,

an electro-motor for driving the pump an electric controller forstarting and stopping the motor, branch pipes from the water main to'therespective boilers, valves in each of the branch pipes to control thefiow of waper or the changes in the boilers, means for each boilerdirectly operated by each boiler operated by the thermally acting meansof said boilers' for controlling the respective valves in the respectivebranch pipes to admit water to .the boilers when the water level isbelow the normal level, and motor devices for operating the electriccontroller for starting the electro-motor and pump whenever water isadmitted to any boiler by its branch pipe under the control of thethermally acting means of such boiler.

8. In means for supplying water to steam he comb'nation ot a pluralitysteam boilers, a feed water pump, a main connected .with the pump, anelectro-motor todrive the pump, a controller for starting andstoppingthe electro-Imotor, means for v operating the controller ting theelectro-motor outof operatiommeans controlled by the water levelconditions of the boiler to put the controller into (Pperation to startthe motor, and separate means for each boiler controlled; by the waterlevel therein for regulating the supply of water from the main to the.respectivevboilers and also'to control the time of operation 'ozfthemeans for operating the controller to *put the electro-motor into or outof operation,

whereby the pump is put into-operation simultaneously with the supply offeed water to any one of the plurality of boilers.

9. In means for supplying feed water to boilers, the combination of aplurality of boilers, ahigh pressure water main, a po. f r driven pumpfor forcing water into the main at-a higher pressure than that in theboilers, an electro-motor for driving the pump, an electric controllerfor starting and stopping the motor, branch pipes from the water main tothe respective boilers, valves in each of'the branch pipes tofcontrolthe flow of water therethrough, automatically operated acting means foreach'bo'iler operated by the changes level of the water in therespective bo lers, meanstjpr each boiler directly in er for normallyputated by the. automatically acting means of said boilers forcontrolling the respective valves in the respective branch pipes toadmit water to the boilers when the water level is below the normallevel, and devices con-. trolled by any one or more of the automaticallyacting means of the plurality of boilers for operating the electriccontroller to start the'electro-motor whenever the water level getsbelow the normal in any one or more of the boilers.

10. In means for supplying feed water to boilers, the combination of aplurality of boilers, a high pressure water main,- a power driven pumpfor forcing water into the mam ata higher pressure than that in thebOIIQIS an electro-motor for driving the pump, an'

electric controller for starting and stopping the motor having means fornormally operro ating the controller to sto the motor, branch pipes fromthe water main to the respective boilers,-

.control of the means of such boiler.

35 In testimony of which inventioin I have hereunto set my hand.

EARL E. XORMA N lllitnesses:

" R. M. HUNTER,

R. KELLY.

